Welcome to the internet publication of
Metaphysics by Default. This web site is maintained by the author as an
academic resource for the general public.

In these pages I draw upon the
works of naturalists  and upon those of metaphysical
philosophers. This must seem an odd juxtaposition of materials, given that
naturalists and metaphysical philosophers lock horns at every crossing. We, being
audience to many a deadlocked battle, can readily believe that the disciplines of earth and ether
are incompatible  or what is
worse, we may believe that each discipline prospers only at the expense of the
other.

These
common notions are not sound. There is no compromise, but reconciliation is possible. Natural science and
metaphysical philosophy can coexist peacefully in the modern mind. This document is proof.

The essay
itself comprises nineteen chapters. The chapters are best read in
sequential order, starting with a timeless word of encouragement that is
Chapter 1.

Readers
who desire to judge the philosophy's practical value may prefer to skip ahead to
Chapter 18. Metaphysics by Default offers ready aid to the
beleaguered ethicist or ecologist, and Chapter 18 explores this potential utility.

Readers
who wonder at the inclusion of so much history in a modern work should hazard first
the dedication of
Chapter 19. The dedication invokes divine qualities of Hellenic spirit which
are lost to us, and which this modern essay perforce recovers.

Supporting documents are available through site
navigation:

(new) A public forum is open, and all are welcome to contribute posts.

A schedule lists the dates of
upcoming public lectures, along with transcripts and abstracts from previous lectures in Vancouver, Saint Petersburg and
Rome.

All chapters have been bound into a single Adobe PDF file for easier printing and transfer. (Click icon to download.)

It is this author's hope that the knowledge marshalled herein
will be of value to every reader  even if some material serves only as a spur towards better knowledge elsewhere. Please feel free to e-mail frank and private
comments.

Editors of the Encyclopaedia Britannica have recognized this work as one of The Web's Best Sites
on the subject of metaphysics. Britannica editors have designated this work as an official Internet Guide Selection, or "iGuide site." Their iGuide imprint marks this work as a supplement to Britannica content, and as a recommended resource for online readers.

The Copernic Report on Metaphysics has ranked this work among the twenty major metaphysical web sites. As of October 2002, public interest has lifted this work to a global copernic ranking of fourth place.